Self-serving table



Oct. 15, 1929.

0. J. JORDAN SELF SERVING TABLE Filed June 20, 1927 4 "II/11111; L7 7 8 Ivzrentor O. f c707" 0 0 Attorney Patented Oct. 15, 1929 UNETEB STATES OKEY J. JORDAN, OF WEIIPPE, IDAHO SELF-SERVING TABLE Application filed June 20,

The present invention relates to improvements in tables and has reference more particularly to a self-serving table.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a self-serving table wherein the same includes a rotatable shaft arranged vertically for rotation at its lower end in a suitable base, a table top belng secured on the upper end of the shaft for simultaneous rotation therewith, a table rim surrounding the table top and being adapted for rotation independently of the shaft and the table top, means being provided for locking the table rim against rotation.

A further and important object of the present invention resides in the provision of a self-servin table wherein the same is of such construction as to save considerable time.

and labor in the handling of dishes and furthermore to provide a means whereby the various persons seated around the table can readily and easily obtain access to the food placed on the rotatable table top.

A'still further object is to provide a self serving table of the above-mentioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive, and furthermore adapted to the purposes for which the same is designed.

Other objects and advantages of this inven- 31) tion will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification and in which likenu merals are employed to designate like parts 33 throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the selfserving table embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the table top, and the rotatable table rim and its supporting platform. f

Figure 3 is a detail view of the means for supporting the platform for rotation about the vertical shaft.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally a base, the samecomprising a hub portion 2 from which extends the radially 5o disposed supporting legs 3 and these legs 1927. Serial N0. 200,094.

space the hub 2 from the floor in the manner as clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

A vertical shaft 4 extends downwardly through the hub 2 of the base 1 and this shaft is adapted for rotation within the hub. A collar 5 is disposed on the lower end of the shaft below the hub 2 and a set screw 6 secures the eoilar on the lower end of the shaft. A similar collar 7 is arranged on the rotatable shaft 1 at a point above the hub 2 and is secured thereon by means of the set screw 8, This provides a means for properly supporting the rotatable shaft in position. The shaft 4 is provided with an annular groove or chan nel 9 at a point above the collar 7 and the purpose of this groove or channel will be hereinafter more fully described.

Secured on the upper end of the rotatable shaft 4: and adapted for rotation therewith is the circular table top 10. A series of handles such as are shown at 11 extend outwardly from the peripheral edge of this table top at spaced intervals to facilitate the manual rotation of the table top and the shaft.

Also forming an important part of the present invention is the enlarged annular table rim 12, the inner diameter of which is slightly greater than the diameter of the circular table top 10 as is more clearly shown in Figure 2 and the bottom face of this table top 10 is disposed directly above the upper face of the table rim 12 so that the handles 11 which extend from the peripheral edge of the circular table top may be readily and easily grasped for facilitating the rotation of the table top.-

This table rim 12 is fixedly secured on a circular platform 13 which is of a diameter slightly greater than the inner diameter of the annular table rim 12 and the table rim 9b: is secured to the platform 13 in any appropriate manner so as to provide a unitary structure. The platform 13 is arranged on a suitable supporting base generally designated by the numeral 14: and the shaft 4 extends up- 95 wardly through the base and the center of the platform 13 in the manner as clearly shown in Figure 2. The platform 13 and the supporting base 14: therefor is supported on the shaft 1 for rotation therearound inde- 100 pendently of the table top 10 and for the purpose of preventing the vertical movement of the platform on the shaft there is provided a flanged collar 15, the flange thereof being illustrated at 16 and suitable bolts or the like shown at 17 extend through the bottom of the base 14 and the flange 16 for securing the collar to said supporting base. A set screw or the like such as is shown at 18 is threaded through a suitable opening provided therefor in the collar 15 and the inner end of this set screw extends into the annular groove 9 provided therefor in the shaft 4:. This structure will permit the table rim 12 and the supporting platform therefor to be rotated about the shaft independently of the shaft and the table top carried by the upper end thereof. F or the purpose of locking the table rim and the platform associated therewith against rotation about the shaft 4, there is provided an annular toothed member 19 which is secured on the top of the hub 2 of the base 1 and cooperating therewith is the pivoted dog 20 which is pivotally supported 1 on a depending bracket 21 carried by the bottom of the platform supporting base 14c. An e'xpansible spring 22 normally urges the free end of the pivoted dog into engagement with the annular toothed member 19.

A cam lever 23 is pivotally supported on the bracket 21 below the pivoted dog 20 and cooperates with the latter to disengage the outer free end of the dog from engagement with the toothed member when the lever 23 .is actuated in order to permit the table rim 12 to revolve about the shaft 4:. Manifestly when the lever is released, the spring 22 will automatically return the pivoted dog into locking engagement with the annular member 19 thereby securing the table rim in a locked position against further rotation about the shaft 4;.

A series of casters such are shown at 2 1 are secured on the bottom of the circular table top 10 and engage the upper face of the platform 13 whereby said circular table top may freely rotate when any one of the handles 11 is grasped and pulled in one direction. To further insure the proper and easy rotation of the circular table top with respect to theplatform 13, there is provided. a hearing 25 and the manner in which this hearing is associated with the'shaft and the circular table top as well as the platform is clearly shown in Figure 2.

An annular skirt portion 26 depends from the bottom of the table rim 12 for the purpose of concealing the platform and a portion of its supporting base.

The operation of the self-serving table is thought to be readily obvious from the censtructionshown and therefore detailed description of the same is thought unnecessary.

When various commodities are placed on the central portion of the table, that is to say,

on the table top 10, the persons seated around the table rim 12 may readily obtain access to the desired articles of food by simply actuating the adjacent handle 11 whereby to bring the desired dish into such a position as to permit a person to readily obtain the same without any diilicult-y. Furthermore by placing the used dishes on the tablerim 12, the same may be collected more easily by a person standing in one place and turning the table rim and such turning is continued until all of the dishes have been removed from the table rim.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that I have provided a highly novel, yet simple self-serving table which will save considerable time and labor in serving a number of persons seated at the table and due to its simplicity, the movable parts of the table may be readily and easily operated whereby each individual may help himself without disturbing the other persons seated at the table. I

lVhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the appended claim.

What I claim is y In a self-serving table, a base, a vertical shaft journaled for rotation at its lower end in the base, a circular table top secured on the upper end of the shaft for rotation therewith, handles extending radially from the peripheral edge of the tabletop, a platform surrounding the shaft for rotation thereon andbeing disposed below the table top, a flanged collar secured on the bottom face of the platform and through which the shaft extends, a set screw threaded radially through said collar, the adjacent por ion of the shaft-being formed with an. annular groove, in which the inner end of the set screw is di posed, a table rim secured on the platform and extending beyond the edge of the circular table top for rotation with said platform, casters carried by the bottom of the circular table top and engaging the upper face of the platform, and meansfor locking the rotatable platform and the table rim carried thereby against rotation about the shaft, said last mentioned means comprising a toothedinember secured on the top of the base, a bracket depending from the bottom of the platform, a pivoted dog carried by the bracket, a spring for normally maintaining the dog in engagement with the toothed member on the base, a manually actuated cam lever pivoted on the bracket below the dog for disengaging the dog from said toothed member.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

OKEY J. JORDAN. 

